Health. CARE. First. AID.

An Ongoing Discussion/Moment of Clarity.

words.

"“Unexpected illnesses and accidents happen every day, and the resulting medical bills can be disastrous,” warned the Web site of Assurant Health, which sold Patrick his policy. Its policy, Assurant promised, “provides the peace of mind and health care access you need at a price you can afford.”

Except it didn’t. Assurant balked at paying Patrick’s claims. In just four weeks, he had racked up more than $14,000 in bills. “And that was just to figure out what was wrong with him,” wrote Patrick’s younger sister, now my Post colleague. “Actually treating his disease was going to be unimaginably more expensive.”

...Assurant, scouring his medical records for a money-saving out, cited test results from eight months earlier. Bingo! — preexisting condition. No coverage.

Patrick Tumulty is Exhibit A on the need for Obamacare and the importance of putting into context the furor over if-you-like-your-policy-you-can-keep-it-gate.

...yes, this is an infuriating moment in the implementation of Obamacare. But as you steam, stop and think about people like Patrick Tumulty — and where they’d be without it."

THE WASHINGTON POST: Obamacare: Weaving a sturdier safety net

SEE ALSO:

THE WASHINGTON POST: Feeding families made more hungry by Congress